American Libraries 1730-1950

About the Author Kenneth Breisch directs the historic preservation program at the University of Southern California. He lives in Santa Monica. . He is the author of numerous publications on American architectural history, especially in the areas of library design and vernacular building

Through 500 photographs and plans selected from the encyclopedic collections of the Library of Congress, Kenneth Breisch traces the development of libraries in the United States, from roots in such iconic examples as the British Library and Paris’s Bibliotheque-Ste.-Genevieve to institutions imbued with their own, American mythology. 850 illustrations. American Libraries provides a history and panorama of these much-loved structures, inside and out, encompassing the small personal collection, the vast university library, and everything in between. Starting with t

He lives in Santa Monica. He is the author of numerous publications on American architectural history, especially in the areas of library design and vernacular building. Kenneth Breisch directs the historic preservation program at the University of Southern California.